Pencil sharpener



NOV? 25, 1930. BARNARD 1,783,146

PENCIL sHARPENER Filed April 9, 1928 Inv or NEAL. 6. BARNARD Absprneys Patented Nov. 25, 1930 NEAL G. BARNARD, or minirnnronrsmrrinfisoirh PENCIL messaging Application filed April 9,

My invention relates toa pencil sharpener of suitable size and shape to be conveniently carried in a pocket Where it will be easily accessible atall times for use;

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive holder for the sharpening blade adapted for the insertion of the pencil point therein and easily and conveniently manipulated by the thumb and fingers of one hand for tapering one end of the pen oil and reducing it to the desired point.

A further objectis to provide means for guiding the end ofthe pencil during the sharpening operation to the end that the de-' gree of out can be easily and accurately con trolled.

A further object is to. provide a' simple,

inexpensive means for securing the sharpening blade 1n the holder and 1n provlsion for an abradingsurface to form a long tapered point on the pencil lead for the use of draftsmen and artists. 7

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the pencil sharpener held in the hands of the user and illustrating the manner of seating the thumb of one hand against the holder and drawing the pencil across the sharpening blade with the fingers of the same hand;

Figure 2 illustrates the manner of holding the sharpening device while grinding or abrading the projecting lead of the pencil;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the manner of guiding the pencil during the sharpening operation;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4c-4 of Figure 3 Figure 5 is a perspective View of the sharpening glade; and a Figure 6 is a plan view of the blank o plate forming the shell or body of the sharpener. V y

In the drawing, 2 representsthe middle portion ofthe blank and 3, wings or flanges folded in parallel relation at right angles substantially to the plate-2. This plate has a a slot or opening 4 pressed or punched therei fronilanda tongue 5:,preferably integral'with I rbend: or shoulder G'form'ed therein so thatthe rendiof the plate {depends into the space between the :wings 3 as indicated in F ignite 3, ca portion of the openings separating the free-endof the tongue 5 from the adj acent end edge-of theopening. Theiplate 2 is alsoipr'owvided with a hole 7 andatQngLue-S that is bent upwardly and backwardly :as indicated in Figure 3. A-screw. or other suitable means 9 fits withinthe hole 7*and into 'al'blade 10 thatsis provided with: a "cuttingpedge 11 that is opposite'and adjacent to the 'free'iendof -the {tongue 6. Whenever desir'ed, this screw 9 may be loosenedandj 'the cutting blade :rehm'oved -for sharpeningpurposes or for re- ,fpairs The plate 2 andthe wingsvthereon are a surfaces '14; and @providedwvith lugs 15 which are adapted to enter the slots-12 and support the plate-between the wings 3 in ,position v vvhere the user ofthe sharpener can at any time easily "and conveniently applyjthe, lead I point of the'pencil to-the' abrading surfaceiof the plate and-form a point'of anydesired :length onthe pencil. This featureof the de- Xvice will commend itself particularlyito art- 7 ist's and draftsmen, or to others requiring the use of pencils with long tapered lead; points. The plate is set in from the edges of the wings so that the user can; conveniently handle the device without smearing his fingers with the lead on the file surfacedplate. I The tongue 8. when .qben't to the position shown in Figure 3, formsa convenient-thumb restso thattheuserholdingthe "device in one hand and the pencil tobe sharpened in the othen, can place thethumb against the rest and easily and conveniently drawthe end of the pencil; across the sharpening blade,and at "the-same time theyielding or resilient tongue I bearingonthe end of, thejpencil will serve lasfligi li ai nd'i fi og eeo pressinreanplied through the pencil to the guide will regulate the depth of cut of the sharpening blade.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 illustrates the usual method of holding the device in the hands during the operation of sharpening the pencil. The holder will be supported between the thumb and fingers of the left hand, with the thumb of the right hand seated against the tongue 8, the pencil being loosely held between the thumb and fingers of the same hand. The end of the pencil will then be engaged with the sharpening blade as illustrated in Figure 3, sufficient pressure being applied through the pencil upon the yielding tongue 5 to press the tongue outwardly and allow the cutting edge of the blade to form a shaving of the desired depth as the pencil is drawn across the cutting edge of the blade. The user can easily form the desired taper on the pencil by changing its angle with respect to the holder, and when the wood portion of the pencil has been suitably reduced, the desired point may easily and quickly be formed on the lead by rubbing it back and forth on the file surface of the plate beneath. This plate being set in a substantial distance from the edge of the holder there will be no opportunity for the fingers of the user being discolored by contact with the pencil point, or the accumulation of lead on the abrading surfaces of the plate. VVhen not in use, the device is of such compact and convenient size it may be easily carried in the pocket.

The flap surfaces of the wings may if desired be used for advertising purposes. A suitable lettering or design may beimpressed in the metal and suitably colored sothat the surface of the wings will present a neat ornamental appearance. These wings will also have sufficient spring so that they may be separated to allow the insertion of a new abrading plate should such a substitution ever become necessary. Generally, however, the surfaces of the abrading plate will permanently be sufliciently abrasive togrindthe pencil point to the desired taper, and renewal of the plate will be unnecessary.

The device may of course bemade in any suitable size and in various ways the details of construction herein used and described may be modified and still be within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

A pencil sharpener including a substantially U-shaped integral holder comprising spaced apart side walls having a top wall connecting them together, a knife blade attached to the upper wall, a flexible guide tongue also'on the upper wall having its free end extending in a direction towards the knife blade and bent downwardly and positioned adjacent to the cutting edge of said blade, the free end of said tongue lying substantially in the medial plane of the blade, said tongue being bendable whereby it may be adjusted 

